Drainage arrangement

ABSTRACT

A drainage arrangement for a vehicle roof comprising two roof parts ( 1, 2 ) which are arranged on a vehicle body in a manner such that they can be pivoted between a closed position and an open position is formed by an elastic drainage line which interacts with the pivotably mounted, fixed roof parts ( 1, 2 ) and, with regard to fault-free operation, is divided into two sections which are connected to each other via a separating device ( 8 ), wherein the individual sections move virtually as rigid bodies during the pivoting movement of the roof parts ( 1, 2 ). As a consequence of a pivoting movement of the linkage supporting the roof parts ( 1, 2 ), the separating device ( 8 ) can be switched between an open position, in which rainwater can be discharged in an orderly manner via the drainage line, and a closed position, in which rainwater is held back in a collecting region containing a collecting container ( 6 ). As a result of the fact that the drainage line is divided into at least two sections which as such are not subject to any deformation during a pivoting movement of the roof parts ( 1, 2 ), a reliable construction of the drainage arrangement preventing deformation of the drainage line is provided.

The invention relates to a drainage arrangement for a vehicle roofaccording to the preamble of claim 1.

DE 101 37 031 discloses a drainage arrangement for a folding roof of ahardtop vehicle, in which, in an open position of the roof, a rearwindow can be pivoted into a retraction position within the trunk,wherein a roof pillar which is adjacent in the side region to the rearwindow, the C pillar, can likewise be pivoted. A water guiding channelextends along the lower edge of the rear window and is continued in theregion of the C pillar and is connected in a lower region to acollecting trough. The latter is fastened to the abovementioned C pillarand is therefore subject to the pivoting movements thereof during eachopening and closing operation of the roof. A flexible drainage hosewhich permits orderly drainage leads away from the collecting trough. Aproblem with said drainage arrangement is that, during each foldingmovement of the roof, the drainage hose, the one end of which isconnected to the collecting trough and the other end of which isconnected to a connecting point fixed on the chassis, is subject toconsiderable movements which cause deformation.

A particular problem of draining vehicle roofs which comprise fixed roofparts which can be pivoted by means of a linkage system and can bepivoted between a closed position and a retraction position is toreliably feed residual water possibly located on the outer sides of theroof surfaces for orderly disposal before an opening movement isintroduced and in particular not to allow said residual water to enterthe passenger compartment. Since the folding operation of the roof partsand the flowing away of the abovementioned residual water proceedvirtually at the same time, the emptying points for said water have tobe positioned taking the path of movement of the roof parts intoconsideration, with the proviso that drainage of water is possible inevery phase of the movement.

EP 1 275 545 discloses a vehicle roof with two fixed, pivotably arrangedroof parts, along the abutting edges of which—as seen in the transversedirection of the vehicle—sealing profiles extend, said sealing profilesat the same time forming collecting grooves for surface water of theroof parts, which surface water flows away from the latter during thefolding operation thereof in the direction of a retraction position. Bycontrast, in the closed state of the roof, the collecting grooves do nothave a function. The collecting grooves each form two globally U-shapedcross-section profiles which are nested one inside the other, arearranged facing each other and by means of which it is ensured that, ineach phase of the movement of the roof parts in the direction of an openstate, water flowing off from their surfaces is reliably collected.Starting from the collecting grooves, the water first of all passes viamolded parts located at the lateral ends of the sealing profiles intodrainage hoses which are fastened to the linkage system supporting theroof parts. This means that every folding operation of the roof is inturn associated with a considerable mechanical load, in particulardeformation of the drainage hoses. Depending on the specific manner inwhich said hoses are laid, in particular in conjunction with therelative movements of those parts of the linkage system which supportthe hoses, buckling of a hose, which at least obstructs the water fromflowing off, cannot be sufficiently reliably prevented in individualcases during a folding operation of the roof. Further risks arising fromthe specific design of the linkage system, in particular of thekinematics and/or of the arrangement of the components thereof and ofthe connection of the hoses thereto can be caused by excessivedeformation which may result in destruction due to a tearing-off actionor even a shearing-off action.

Against this background, it is the object of the invention to design adrainage arrangement of the type described at the beginning which, whileavoiding the disadvantages associated with the prior art, in particularwhile reducing the mechanical stress on drainage hoses, permits afault-free drainage of a vehicle roof comprising at least one, generallymore than one, pivotably coupled, fixed roof parts. This object isachieved in the case of a drainage arrangement of this type by means ofthe features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

According thereto, it is essential to the invention that a drainage linewhich adjoins the collecting channels of the sealing profiles assignedto the pivotably arranged roof parts is divided into at least twosections with the use of at least one separating device. The purpose ofsaid separating device is to reduce the mechanical stress on thedrainage line during the pivoting movements of the roof parts by saiddrainage line being divided into sections which, as such, experiencevirtually no deformation during the pivoting movement such that, in areversal of the prior art explained at the beginning, no malfunctionscaused by excessive deformation, such as, for example, buckling or evendestruction due to a tearing-off action, shearing-off action or thelike, can occur. The abovementioned sections are selected according tostructural elements of the vehicle roof which serve to bring about thefolding operation and accordingly are arranged pivotably, but are rigidas such. The separating device forms an intersection between twosections in each case and can be switched between a closed position anda passage position. It should therefore be placed between two structuralelements which can be pivoted relative to each other, and has to beprovided to the effect that it is capable of absorbing pivotingmovements of the structural elements. This gives rise to the possibilityof blocking the passage through the drainage line during certainoperating states, for example, of the folding roof.

According to the features of claim 2, at least one collecting region islocated between the abovementioned collecting channels and theseparating device, said collecting region being provided in the openposition of the separating device in order to collect and hold backsurface water from the roof parts. By contrast, the stored water canflow out of said collecting region as soon as the separating device hasbeen switched again into its closed or passage position, an operatingstate which arises with the closed position of the roof parts.

According to the features of claim 3, the collecting region canadvantageously be formed by means of a collecting container. The latteris arranged at a suitable location—as seen in the direction of flow ofthe surface water flowing off—in front of the separating device.

According to the features of claim 4, a molded part is located betweenthe collecting channels and the drainage line, said molded part formingthe binding element between, if appropriate, a plurality of collectingchannels and a drainage line. The collecting container mentioned at thebeginning may at the same time advantageously, if appropriate, also beintegrated in said molded part. However, a molded part which isindependent of the function of the connecting point can also be providedfor the collecting container as part of the collecting region.

The drainage line is formed in a manner known per se by means of hoseswhich, according to the features of claim 5, are fastened to those partsof a linkage which are intended for the pivoting of the roof parts. Thedimensioning of said sections therefore takes place as a function of thedimensioning of those sections of the linkage which are in each caserigid as such. The switching movements required for actuation of theseparating device can advantageously be derived from the pivotingmovement of parts of the linkage system supporting the roof parts.

According to the features of claim 6, the separating device is locatedin the vicinity of a pivot axis provided for the pivoting of roof parts,therefore in the vicinity of an intersection between two lever elementsof a linkage, here of the roof linkage. This is advantageous with regardto the specific configuration of the separating device which, in itsclosed position, has to permit corresponding movements of the end pointsof those sections of the drainage line which are bridged by saidseparating device. It is essential in this connection that theseparating device is arranged with the proviso that its switchingoperation between an open and a closed position, in particular theswitching movements required for this purpose, is at least partiallybrought about by those parts of the roof linkage or by structuralelements fastened directly to the latter, which parts or structuralelements, during the movement of the roof parts, execute relativemovement from which the abovementioned switching movements can bederived.

The features of claim 7 are focused directly on the separating devicewhich, according thereto, comprises two structural elements which arefastened to different linkages of the roof linkage which brings aboutthe pivoting of the roof parts. According thereto, a further structuralframework condition of the structural elements is that the pivotingmovement of the two linkages relative to each other is converted into aswitching movement via which the separating device can be switchedbetween its closed position and its passage position.

The features of claims 8 and 9 are focused on a specific configurationof the separating device. According thereto, one of its structuralelements contains a valve, the valve disk of which is movable between anopen and a closed position by the other of the two structural elementsvia a tappet integrally formed on said valve disk. The other of theabovementioned structural elements is formed by a collecting plate,which, as a consequence of a pivoting movement of the two linkages,comes to bear against the tappet and thereby moves the valve diskbetween its open and its closed position.

According to the features of claims 10 and 11, both of theabovementioned structural elements are provided with connecting brancheswhich are intended for the connection of hoses which form sections ofthe drainage line.

According to the features of claim 12, the valve disk of the valvelocated in the one structural element is acted upon by a spring viawhich said valve experiences elastic prestressing in the direction ofone of its switching positions, for example its closed position.

The basic concept of the invention, with regard to fault-free operation,of dividing an elastic drainage line, which is preferably provided inthe form of a hose and interacts with a plurality of, for example two,pivotably mounted, fixed roof parts, into two sections which areconnected to each other via a separating device such that, during apivoting movement of the roof parts, the individual sections movevirtually as rigid bodies, is not restricted to the use just of oneseparating device and therefore the formation of two sections of adrainage line. According to the kinematic framework conditions, inparticular the number of pivotable linkage parts, it may also comprisesmore than one separating device and therefore more than two sectionswhich, in turn, can be switched between a closed position and an openposition as a function of the pivoting movement of the roof parts, to beprecise, preferably with temporary storage of surface water which arisesin receiving containers. A configuration and arrangement of the drainageline in a manner which is therefore suitable in terms of stressincreases the service life of a drainage arrangement of this type.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to theexemplary embodiment which is reproduced schematically in the drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 shows an illustration of the closed position of a motor vehiclefolding roof, which comprises a front and a rear roof part, in a sideview;

FIG. 2 shows an illustration of the folding roof according to FIG. 1 ina transition position toward the open position;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged partial illustration of water-conductingelements of a drainage arrangement in the connecting region between tworoof parts of a folding roof;

FIG. 4 shows a further enlarged partial illustration of a separatingdevice, which is in the closed position, between two sections ofwater-conducting parts of the drainage arrangement according to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows an illustration of the separating device according to FIG.4 in the open position.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, that roof part which is in front, as seen in thedirection of travel of a vehicle, of a folding roof comprising two fixedroof parts is referred to by 1, said roof part together with a rear roofpart 2 completing the roof surface in the closed position shown inFIG. 1. The two roof parts 1, 2 are pivotably coupled to a chassis (notillustrated in the drawing) in manner known per se by means of a rooflinkage 3. For the transfer into the complete open position from theclosed position shown in FIG. 1, first of all the rear roof part 2—asshown in FIG. 2—is pivoted toward the front roof part 1, with the tworoof parts 1, 2 subsequently being pivoted in a space-saving manner as a“package” into the trunk of the vehicle.

A more detailed description of the kinematics of the folding operationof the two roof parts 2, 2 is omitted below.

A sealing profile 4 which extends transversely with respect to thelongitudinal extent of the vehicle and opens at at least one of its twolateral ends into a molded part 5 is located at the location of thejoint between the two roof parts 1, 2. The sealing profile 4 forms aseal in the region of the joint between the two roof parts 1, 2 and isdesigned at the same time in order to conduct away rainwater whicharrives on it in the direction of the at least one molded part 5. Themolded part 5 therefore serves to collect said surface water and toconduct it away in an orderly manner.

A collecting container 6, to the output side of which at least oneflexible hose 7 is connected, is connected to the molded part 5, saidhose leading via a separating device 8 (which is yet to be described inmore detail below) to a further flexible hose 9 which, for its part, isprovided and arranged for conducting away water in an orderly manner.

A sealing profile which is arranged at the rear border of the rear roofpart 2 and, like the sealing profile 4, is provided (in a manner notillustrated in the drawing) to collect penetrating surface water andwhich, if appropriate, can be continuously connected to a molded part 5via hoses arranged in between is referred to by 10.

FIG. 1 shows the two roof parts 1, 2 in their closed position. Thelatter is characterized in that rainwater which arrives on the roofparts is collected via the sealing profiles 4 in collecting channels(not reproduced in the drawing) and can be conducted away via hoses 7,9. A collecting container 6 and a separating device 8 are located overthe course of said hoses, said separating device, in the closed positionof the two roof parts, being in an open position which permitsunhindered passage of water.

For the transfer into the closed position from the open position shownin FIG. 1, first of all the rear roof part 2 is pivoted—as shown in FIG.2—onto the front roof part 1, with the two roof parts subsequently beingpivoted as a package into a receiving compartment in the trunk.According to the invention, a transfer of the separating device 8 into aclosed position is associated with said opening movement such that, as aresult, surface water which was still located on the roof parts 1, 2before the beginning of the folding operation is received via thecollecting channels of the sealing profiles 4 and collected in at leastone collecting container 6 as a consequence of the closed position ofthe separating device.

The dimensioning of the collecting container 6/of the collectingcontainers 6 and the arrangement thereof is always provided, with theproviso that, as a consequence of the opening movement, surface waterflowing off from the roof parts cannot enter the vehicle interior butrather is supplied for temporary storage in the collectingcontainer/collecting containers 6. However, temporary storage is notrestricted to the collecting container and can additionally also beprovided in all of the line sections upstream of the separating device,including in the region of the sealing profile 4. In general, acollecting region in which water can be stored is therefore provided.

If a transfer back of the roof parts 1, 2 into the closed position shownin FIG. 1 subsequently takes place, the water collected in thecollecting containers or in the collecting regions can flow off in anorderly manner as a result of the separating device 8 being now openedagain.

FIG. 3 shows, in an enlarged illustration, the spatial arrangement ofthe separating device 8 within those parts of the drainage arrangementwhich are intended for conducting water. Said separating device formsthe binding element between the hose 7, which is attached to a frontlinkage 11, and the hose 9, which is attached to a rear linkage 12. Thefront and rear linkages 11, 12 are arranged pivotably with respect toeach other about a pivot point (not illustrated in the drawing) which islocated at the location 13, with pivoting taking place in the event ofthe roof being transferred from the closed position into the openposition and vice versa. This pivoting movement is used at the same timein a manner which is yet to be explained in more detail below in orderto switch the separating device 8 between its respective open and closedpositions.

FIG. 3 shows the roof in its closed position, with the arrows 14indicating the outflow direction of rainwater striking against the roofsurface. In FIG. 3 and the following figures of the drawing, functionalelements which correspond to those of FIGS. 1 and 2 are correspondinglynumbered such that a repeated description in this regard can be omitted.

An outflow system into which the hose 9 opens at the lower end of therear linkage 12 is referred to globally by 15.

FIG. 4 shows the separating device 8 in an enlarged illustration betweenthe hoses 7, 9. The separating device 8 is formed by a valve, thehousing 16 of which is fastened to the front linkage 11 and whichinteracts with a collecting plate 17 which is fastened to the rearlinkage 12.

The housing 16 is provided with a connecting branch 18 for the hose 7,said connecting branch leading via a cylinder 19 to an outlet opening20, the inner walls of the cylinder 19 which face the outlet opening 20being designed as a valve seat for a valve disk 22 which is accommodatedin a slideable manner in the direction of the arrows 23 within thecylinder 19.

A tappet 24, the lower end of which is located at a distance above thebase 25 of the collecting plate 17 in the closed position (shown in FIG.4) of the valve is integrally formed on the valve disk 22—in a mannerextending coaxially with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder19 and projecting out of the outlet opening 20.

A connecting branch 26 to which the hose 9 is connected opens into thebase region of the collecting plate 17.

The valve disk 22 is held in the closed position by a spring 27 which islocated within the cylinder 19 and likewise extends coaxially within thecylinder 19.

If, starting from the closed position (shown in FIG. 4) of theseparating device 8 which is assigned to the open position of the roofparts 1, 2, the closing movement of the roof parts 1, 2 is nowinitiated, this is associated with a pivoting movement of the front andrear linkages 11, 12 relative to each other, to be precise to the effectthat the collecting plate 17 moves essentially in the direction of thearrows 23 toward the housing 16 such that it finally comes into contactbetween the tappet 24 and the base 25. A further movement of thecollecting plate 17 in the direction of the housing 16 finally transfersthe valve or the valve disk 22 into the open position such that acontinuous connection is now provided between the hoses 7, 9. The closedposition of the roof parts 1, 2 corresponds to the open position of theseparating device 8 such that rainwater striking against the roof partscan now flow unobstructed via the hoses 7, 9 in the direction of theoutflow system 15. As a consequence of the position of the linkages 11,12 relative to each other, the separating device is, as a result, heldin its open position.

By contrast, as a consequence of a pivoting of the linkages 11, 12,transfer again of the roof parts 1, 2 into their open position causesthe collecting plate 17 to move away from the housing 16 and accordinglycauses a closing movement of the valve disk 22, which movement isinitiated under the action of the spring 27, in the direction of theoutlet opening 20. Surface water which passes in this phase via thesealing profiles 4 into the abovementioned collecting region, inparticular the collecting container 6, is therefore stored thereinduring the opening phase of the roof. Such storage likewise takes placein the sealing profile 4 itself and in further line elements between thelatter and the separating device.

It can be seen with reference to the above statements that a foldingroof equipped with a drainage arrangement according to the inventionpermits a convenient, fault-free operation which, in particular, is freefrom water penetrating during the folding movements of the roof parts.It can furthermore be seen that the existing drainage line is dividedstarting from the molded part 5 as far as the outflow system 15 intosections, the length and profile of which are provided according to thelinkages 11, 12, with the abovementioned separating device 8 forming thebinding element between said sections and being arranged in the vicinityof a common pivot axis which connects the linkages 11, 12 and is locatedat the location 13. During a folding operation of the roof parts 1, 2,the hoses 7, 9 which are fastened to the linkages 11, 12 are thereforenot subject to any deformation but rather move virtually as rigid bodiestogether with the linkages 11, 12.

1-12. (canceled)
 13. A drainage arrangement for a vehicle roofcomprising at least two fixed roof parts (1, 2) which are arranged on avehicle body in a manner such that they can be pivoted between a closedand an open position or retraction position, wherein each roof part (1,2) is at least partially surrounded by a sealing profile (4) which isconnected via a collecting channel to a drainage line, characterized inthat the drainage line is divided into at least two sections by means ofat least one separating device (8) which can be switched between aclosed position and a passage position, and in that the abovementionedsections are selected according to structural elements of the vehicleroof which are intrinsically rigid during a pivoting operation of theroof parts between an open and a closed position and are movablerelative to one another.
 14. The drainage arrangement as claimed inclaim 13, characterized in that at least one collecting region isarranged over the course of the connection between the abovementionedcollecting channel and the separating device (8), and in that thecollecting region and the separating device (8) are arranged with theproviso that the drainage line is interrupted during the introduction ofthe opening movement of the vehicle roof and during the existence of anopen state, and residual surface water arising at the roof parts (1, 2)is collected and held back in the collecting region.
 15. The drainagearrangement as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the collectingregion comprises a collecting container (6).
 16. The drainagearrangement as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the connectionbetween the collecting channel and the drainage line is formed by amolded part (5) into which the collecting container (6) is bound. 17.The drainage arrangement as claimed in claim 13, characterized in thatthe first section of the two sections of the drainage line, whichsection is located between the collecting container (6) and theseparating device (8), is formed by a hose (7), and the second sectionof the two sections of the drainage line, which section adjoins theseparating device (8), is formed by a hose (9), the hoses (7, 9) beingfastened to parts of the linkage (11, 12) which is intended for thepivoting of the roof parts (1, 2) and supports the latter.
 18. Thedrainage arrangement as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that theseparating device (8) is arranged in the vicinity of a pivot axisprovided for the pivoting of roof parts (1, 2), and therefore thosesections of the drainage line which adjoin both sides of the separatingdevice (8) do not undergo any deformation whatsoever because of theopening and closing operation of the vehicle roof.
 19. The drainagearrangement as claimed in claim 17, characterized in that the separatingdevice (8) comprises two structural elements, one of which is fastenedto the first linkage (11) and the other of which is fastened to thesecond linkage (12), and in that the structural elements are designedand arranged with the proviso that a pivoting movement of the twolinkages (11, 12) relative to each other can be converted into aswitching movement via which the separating device (8) can be switchedbetween the closed position and the passage position.
 20. The drainagearrangement as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that one of theabovementioned structural elements comprises a housing (16) whichcontains a valve and in which a valve disk (22) is arranged in a mannersuch that it is movable between an open and a closed position.
 21. Thedrainage arrangement as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that theother of the abovementioned structural elements comprises a collectingplate (17) which is arranged at a distance from the housing (16), inthat a tappet (24) is attached to the valve disk (22) and is intendedfor interacting with the collecting plate (17) to the effect that, as aconsequence of the relative movement of the collecting plate (17) in adirection toward the tappet (24) or away from the latter, the valve disk(22) is movable between its open and its closed position.
 22. Thedrainage arrangement as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that aconnecting branch (18) intended for the connection of the first hose(7), which is located between the collecting container (6) and theseparating device (8), is integrally formed on one of the two structuralelements.
 23. The drainage arrangement as claimed in claim 19,characterized in that a connecting branch (26) intended for theconnection of the hose (9), which adjoins the separating device (8), isintegrally formed on the other of the two structural elements.
 24. Thedrainage arrangement as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that themovement of the valve disk (22) in the direction of its open position isapplied counter to the resetting force of a spring (27).
 25. Thedrainage arrangement as claimed in claim 14 characterized in that thefirst section of the two sections of the drainage line, which section islocated between the collecting container (6) and the separating device(8), is formed by a hose (7), and the second section of the two sectionsof the drainage line, which section adjoins the separating device (8),is formed by a hose (9), the hoses (7, 9) being fastened to parts of thelinkage (11, 12) which is intended for the pivoting of the roof parts(1, 2) and supports the latter.
 26. The drainage arrangement as claimedin claim 15 characterized in that the first section of the two sectionsof the drainage line, which section is located between the collectingcontainer (6) and the separating device (8), is formed by a hose (7),and the second section of the two sections of the drainage line, whichsection adjoins the separating device (8), is formed by a hose (9), thehoses (7, 9) being fastened to parts of the linkage (11, 12) which isintended for the pivoting of the roof parts (1, 2) and supports thelatter.
 27. The drainage arrangement as claimed in claim 16characterized in that the first section of the two sections of thedrainage line, which section is located between the collecting container(6) and the separating device (8), is formed by a hose (7), and thesecond section of the two sections of the drainage line, which sectionadjoins the separating device (8), is formed by a hose (9), the hoses(7, 9) being fastened to parts of the linkage (11, 12) which is intendedfor the pivoting of the roof parts (1, 2) and supports the latter. 28.The drainage arrangement as claimed in claim 14, characterized in thatthe separating device (8) is arranged in the vicinity of a pivot axisprovided for the pivoting of roof parts (1, 2), and therefore thosesections of the drainage line which adjoin both sides of the separatingdevice (8) do not undergo any deformation whatsoever because of theopening and closing operation of the vehicle roof.
 29. The drainagearrangement as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the separatingdevice (8) is arranged in the vicinity of a pivot axis provided for thepivoting of roof parts (1, 2), and therefore those sections of thedrainage line which adjoin both sides of the separating device (8) donot undergo any deformation whatsoever because of the opening andclosing operation of the vehicle roof.
 30. The drainage arrangement asclaimed in claim 16, characterized in that the separating device (8) isarranged in the vicinity of a pivot axis provided for the pivoting ofroof parts (1, 2), and therefore those sections of the drainage linewhich adjoin both sides of the separating device (8) do not undergo anydeformation whatsoever because of the opening and closing operation ofthe vehicle roof.
 31. The drainage arrangement as claimed in claim 18,characterized in that the separating device (8) comprises two structuralelements, one of which is fastened to the first linkage (11) and theother of which is fastened to the second linkage (12), and in that thestructural elements are designed and arranged with the proviso that apivoting movement of the two linkages (11, 12) relative to each othercan be converted into a switching movement via which the separatingdevice (8) can be switched between the closed position and the passageposition.
 32. The drainage arrangement as claimed in claim 31,characterized in that one of the abovementioned structural elementscomprises a housing (16) which contains a valve and in which a valvedisk (22) is arranged in a manner such that it is movable between anopen and a closed position.